Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-10
THE OLD LOG CABIN.
Interesting Description Of tho Ancient
Typo Of American Residences.

| Gnteresting Description Of tho Ancient
Typo Of American Residences.
The old log cabin was about eighteen
feet square. In rare cases it contained
more than one room. as general rule
but one, said Jndge j. b Allies at an
old settlers meeting at Sugar Plain. N.
7. 1t was built Of round logs or poles.
sometimes though not often. dressed
of little after its erection. 1t was
one story high. covered with clap
boards about four feet long. split out of
oak timber. which. instead of being
nailed down. were kept in their places
by heavy pieces of timber called
weight poles" which were kept at
suitable distances apart by the use of
small sticks Of wood called knees.
The boards rested on logs ex-
i tending from one end of
the building to the other. each
one ascending higher than its predeces-
sor as the gable went up. thus giving
i the roof the right pitch. These were
called ribs" except the one forming
the apex of the roof which was called
the ridge pole" To prevent the
first tier of boards from sliding of.
there was placed on each side split
log for them to rest against, called the
''butting pole" These rested on the
ends. or logs projecting out from the
house. called ''eaves-bearerS" When
any other floor than that provided by
nature was used, it was made of
large slabs split out of poplar or ash
trees, dressed off on one side as
smoothly as was practicable with q
broad.axe. This was called q
''puncheon'' floor, and was at first
confined to families of aristocratic pre-
tensions, but gradually came into gen.
eral use. There was but one door. the
shutter to which was made of clap
boards and hung on wooden hinges.
with latch on the inside, of the same
material. to which was attached a
leather string. which. through a small
aperture in the shutter, was made to
hang invitingly on the outside; the
truest indication of genuine hospitality
being the fact that 1.-THE latchstring
was out" Generally there was one
window, made by cutting out the up
per and under halves of two neighbor-
ing logs. and filling the space made
vacant with CREASED paper, often such
as had been written on at school The
lower part of the chimney was built of
thick-hewed pieces of timber, or heavy
slabs, lined on the inside with a thick
coat of clay. of which material the
hearth also was made. The upper part
was built of small split pieces of tim
Der about the size of a common lath.
and mortar made of clay and straw.
the inside being smoothed off with the
hands of the builder. so as to cover up
the wood as far as possible. 1t was a
nice job to build one of these CHM
neys, and the man who succeeded
we'll in it became n considerable man
in the community. and exceedingly
popular with the women. who were
then as now bitterly opposed to
''smoky chimneys." The openings
between the logs were stopped with
small pieces of split timber called
.'chinks." to which was added mortar
made of common clay, put on with the
hands of the workmen. No cabin was
ever considered finished until it was
''chinked'' and ''daubed. Not a
brick. nail. plank. glass or shingle was
used in one of these early homes of our
forefathers, and such thing as paint
or wallpaper was not dreamed Of
The internal fitting up was quite as
economical and ingenious. On one
side of the spacious fireplace. just I'M
der the window have described. was
set small table. sometimes brought
by the family from their old homes.
but generally made on the spot out OF
few slabs and clapboards attached
to each other. A few shelves in the
opposite corner answered the purpose
of cupboard in which to put away the
pewter ware. Near the door. per
haps at the side of the window. was
suspended over piece of paper pasted
on the wall. very useful and ingeni.
Gus contrivance pronounced "huz.
zelf," in which were stuck the pins
and needles of the family. and in the
capacious pockets of which the entire
family of combs-big and little. course
and fine-together with an endless
variety of other small traps" were
deposited. Above this. in exception.
al cases. where the parties were rich.
a small looking-glass was perched. 1r
most cases there were three beds ir
the room, in which there was no par.
tition. one IN each corner with its feet
towards the fireplace. and one placed
crOsswise between them. On the wal
behind the beds was hung the entire
wearing apparel of tho family. from
the eldest to the youngest, including
that Of the daughters whose claim to the
favor of the Young gentlemen de.
pended on the extent of their ward
robe, as we'll as the spun WOOL fa1
and tow of which they could boast. all
of which suspended from the joists
above. tffr
Just over the door rested the much.
needed rifle. and ON rack suspended
from fh6 ioisfa In front ~ fire firenl a